Sciantec has updated its mycotoxin screening service and is now one of the few UK laboratories using LCMS/MS instrumentation. This service delivers more accurate, reliable results with a lower risk of false positives from matrix interference and highly coloured sample extracts.

‘Feed manufacturers test raw materials and finished feeds, which can include both previous season’s grain and new crop cereals. So, tests that are quicker, more streamlined, and more reliable are important all year round,’ said Steve Parks, General Manager at Sciantec.

‘Most laboratories use ELISA to screen for mycotoxins. This method is susceptible to false positives, as anything highly coloured can affect the generated results. It also covers a smaller range of matrices, making it less useful to our customers overall. Our move to LCMS/MS instrumentation provides customers with the fastest and most reliable service in the industry, giving them even more confidence in their results at this crucial time.’

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain moulds, which grow on a variety of crops and foodstuffs under warm and humid conditions. It is important to screen for mycotoxins as exposure can result in adverse health effects in livestock and humans alike.

This service targets feed, grain, grain derivatives, and premix materials, and reporting will remain in the same format customers are used to. Sciantec will continue to offer UKAS accredited mycotoxin analysis by HPLC as a separate service, which is also being updated over time as part of the business’ commitment to continuous improvement.

‘The Cawood Group is dedicated to delivering the most up-to-date services to help our customers meet their goals whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet,’ said Simon Parrington, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cawood.

‘The team has worked incredibly hard to improve the business’ services to safeguard livestock and protect the food chain from the very source. By providing innovative services that are not used by the industry at large, Sciantec has continued to cement itself as one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist ingredient and animal feed analysis.’

For more information or to book in your samples, contact us today.

Marchwood has invested in a state-of-the-art stacks laboratory to house its new range of accredited tests for stack emissions. These services enable companies to demonstrate compliance with the limits and regulations in place to reduce pollution, safeguard public health, and support a safer, healthier planet.

‘Our new laboratory, developed from existing space at our Manchester site, has helped us extend our capacity and capability,’ said Jenny Wraith, Business Development Manager at Marchwood. ‘Regulatory monitoring is a legal requirement for all industrial and power generation facilities. All organisations are provided with an environmental permit that outlines the substances that need to be monitored and the limits that must be adhered to. If they do not remain compliant with these requirements, sanctions may be implemented by the governing body.

‘Essentially, we can now provide one convenient and comprehensive service for occupational hygiene and stack emissions services, helping these facilities easily demonstrate compliance with the latest accurate and reliable analytical services.’

Marchwood has invested in this high-end instrumentation to provide an industry-leading 7 working day turnaround, including ICP/MS, two Ion Chromatographs, CVAFS, 5 d.p. analytical balances, and a water scrubbed fume cupboard for handling hydrofluoric acid. We have also brought new microwave technology to the UK, with a system comprising of twelve independent magnetrons for superior temperature-controlled digestion.

‘We have analysed occupational hygiene and other environmental air samples for many years. Our services have grown in both capability and capacity thanks to investment from our parent company, Cawood, and our culture of continuous improvement,’ continued Jenny. ‘Our new extensive range of stacks analysis complement the well-established dioxin, PCB, and PAH analytical services that are already offered by Marchwood. We are also the first lab in the UK to test for brominated dioxins at our Southampton site. Following a rigorous accreditation campaign, we are MCERTS accredited for a number of key parameters. We will continue to add to this scope of accreditation over the next year.’

Air pollution has a devastating impact on people all around the world, resulting in ill health and even death. A key source of air pollution is emissions from stack chimneys or flues. Substances emitted from stacks can exist in gaseous or particulate phases and, in many cases, are released simultaneously. The chosen monitoring method must be able to capture both phases for organic pollutants including dioxins and furans as well as inorganic pollutants such as mercury.

‘The team has worked exceptionally hard over the last few months to set up the lab and develop these new tests to give us a comprehensive stacks analysis service for our customers,’ said Simon Parrington, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cawood. ‘We are focussed on providing reliable and accurate analytical services to help our customers meet and maintain compliance whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet. These new services have also further cemented our position as market leaders in occupational hygiene and environmental analysis in the UK.’

The tests that Marchwood are currently MCERTS accredited for include:

Marchwood provides a UKAS analytical service on a range of other parameters. For more information, contact us.

Cawood has renewed its partnership with the Farmers Weekly Transition project, an initiative designed to help farmers shift to sustainable farming practices.

‘We support Farmers Weekly in its aim to help secure a sustainable future for agricultural and farming businesses throughout the UK,’ said Rory Geldard, Commercial Manager at NRM.

‘This year, we’re taking on an increased level of participation, which will allow us to share our expertise with an even larger audience. Cawood Agriculture delivers a wide variety of expert analytical services to farmers, landowners and their advisors, lots contributing to regenerative agriculture. For example, our soil organic matter analysis helps customers qualify for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and CarbonCheck measures soil carbon levels and helps plan soil health improvements.’

To help farmers remain productive whilst shifting to sustainable farming practices, Farmers Weekly has been producing informative podcasts examining environmentally-friendly and sustainable farming methods and how to remain successful. A series of expert webinars and regular news roundups including Transition Specials are also available to help farmers stay up-to-date with the latest news and take advantage of the knowledge that has been pooled together by the industry.

‘Sharing knowledge and ideas that work makes a big difference to the industry’, continued Rory. ‘Information shared through the Transition activity will improve resilience, biodiversity, air and water quality, and carbon sequestration.’

‘Agriculture is in a unique position to protect and benefit the environment by adopting sustainable farming practices,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director, Agriculture. ‘The Transition project is doing a fantastic job in helping farmers learn how to shift to sustainable farming practices without taking a hit to their productivity and profitability. We are proud to be a sponsor, as it reflects our commitment to increasing awareness of regenerative agriculture and helping farmers achieve it whilst supporting their own businesses.’

For more information on the project, visit their website.